Ray-Ban Stories: Meta's tech glasses get smarter
Ray-Ban Stories gets new features and keeps getting better thanks to Meta's continuous software updates.
Ray-Ban Stories is the result of a collaboration with Meta and was released in September 2021. Ray-Ban is responsible for the form factor and distribution, while Meta provides the technology and software.
The Ray-Ban Stories has two cameras, microphones, speakers and a touch display built in. The tech glasses can be used for three things: Taking pictures and videos, listening to music or podcasts, and answering calls. The glasses weigh less than 50 grams.
How Meta makes Ray-Ban Stories better
Since launch, firmware updates have added a number of new features and improvements:
- Meta Messenger support rolled out in December 2021. Users can use voice commands to send Messenger messages, have incoming Messenger messages read aloud, and make Messenger calls.
- Also new were voice commands for adjusting audio volume and stopping and resuming audio playback.
- In April 2022, Meta increased the recording time of videos from an optional 30 seconds to 60 seconds and added support for voice commands in French and Italian.
A third firmware update that brings Whatsapp support will follow in the next few days. Users will soon be able to send Whatsapp messages via voice control, have incoming Whatsapp messages read aloud, and make Whatsapp calls.
Mark Zuckerberg also announced a new feature that will make it possible to reply to messages read aloud from Messenger and Whatsapp using voice control. This way, the smartphone can stay in your pocket.
Ray-Ban Stories: One of three meta-wearables?
The Ray-Ban Stories has no display, which limits its usefulness. However, Meta is reportedly already planning to launch a pair of data glasses codenamed Hypernova next year. A more advanced AR headset (codenamed Artemis) is expected to follow in 2026.
According to insider reports, Ray-Ban Stories will remain a separate product line alongside the data glasses and future AR headsets. That could mean no display in the near future. That's probably also due to Ray-Ban's strict design rules.
A second Ray-Ban Stories is already in development and is expected to launch in 2023. The project recently suffered a setback due to problems with the development of a Meta proprietary chip. Management then decided to use a chip from Qualcomm so as not to delay the market launch.
The Ray-Ban Stories are currently sold in the following countries:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Italy
- France
- Canada
- Austria
- Spain
- USA
- United Kingdom
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